Bernie Little Memorial
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July 14
Schedule: See front page.
Location: Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA
Contest Director: Dave and Brenda Brandt
Previous Race Winners
Race held in Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park, Ellensburg, WA 2004, 2006-2015, Present
Race held in Lake Silverado, Adna, WA 2016-2017
Race held in Mollala, OR 2005
-2019: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [nitro] and Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines) [FE]
-2018: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [FE]
-2017: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop U-64) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) [FE]
-2016: Dave Brandt (1978 Squire Shop) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) [FE]
-2015: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) [FE]
-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) [nitro] and Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus) [FE}
-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and John Olson (1997 Close Call) [FE}
Prior to 2013, no FE class run
-2012: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)
-2011: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2010: Kirk Maupin (1975 Atlas Van Lines)
-2009: Steve Schmitz (1985 Squire Shop)
-2008: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame)
-2007: David Newton (1985 Miss 7-Eleven)
-2006: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)
-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)
Facebook photo album here
YouTube video playlist here
The Meyers Autotech Championship Sereis Powered by Rattlesnake RC and Nova Rossi Marine USA returned to central Washington, descending on Ellensburg for the 7th race of the 2019 season. This was a unique one-day Sunday race, due to the Ellensburg Triathlon held at the park the previous day. Thanks to all who arrived early on Sunday morning to help setup before testing.
It was a tricky day on the racecourse, with breezy conditions expected. Sure enough, for the last two heats of the day, and the finals, sustained winds of around 20 mph descended on the lake. The wind was slightly inconsistent and very difficult for racers to manage; it was calm enough for drivers to think they could push the pace up the backstretch, but strong enough to overturn boats that caught some air. This would play a major role in the finals.
With 37 boats on hand representing four classes of racing, the day flew by. The 1/10th scale electric class held one heat, before a collision forced the withdrawal of the entire class. However, it was still a strong day, with plenty of great racing. See the finals recaps below!
Bill Brandt makes it 2-in-a-row in nitro, Don Mock captures first career FE victory, and Dave Brandt continues his perfect run in gas scale
Gas Scale Consolation
1st: 1983 Miss Houston, Brian Packer
DNF: 1962 Miss Bardahl, Ken Olson
DNF: 1959 Maverick, Ron Hartley
Unfortunately, the three boat race never quite materialized in this heat. Ken Olson's new Miss Bardahl, while quick, is still experiencing new-boat blues, and the Maverick is also struggling to score points right now. However, Brian Packer did not have an easy day in the Houston, and was able to overcome earlier mechanical issues to take the victory.
Gas Scale Final
Gas Scale Final
1st: 1982 Gilmore Special, Dave Brandt
2nd: 1982 Executone, Tim Hines
3rd: 1983 Miss Houston, Brian Packer
4th: 1985 Coor's Light, Jeff Griffin
5th: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte
6th (DNF): 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
Dave Brandt started on the inside with the Gilmore, with the Executone besides him in lane 2, and the Houston in lane 3 (moving up due to the Circus failing to advance to the mill). The Gilmore took the early lead, but Tim Hines and the Executone would not allow him to rest. For five laps, the Executone chased on the outside, but could never quite make up the advantage. The Gilmore took the checkered flage, making it a perfect 6-for-6 in 2019 for Dave Brandt.
1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final
1st: 1984 Atlas Van Lines, Don Mock
2nd: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Paxton Reunanen
3rd: 1999 Miss Madison, Henry Oord
4th: 1968 Miss Bardahl, Randy Gosseen
5th: 1962 Lumberville, John Earnest
6th: 1958 Wildroot Charlie, Ron Daum
7th (DNF): 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt
Paxton took the inside lane with the KISW Miss Rock, and took the early lead. However, he had to manage the wind with the flightly Miss Rock, and Don Mock charged up the outside with the faster Atlas. Paxton tried to chase him down, but the Atlas was took quick, and took the victory. It was Don Mock's first career victory in the FE class following his return to R/CU in 2019.
1/8th Scale Nitro Second Consolation
1st: 2001 Miss Emcor, Gary Grembowski
2nd: 1973 Red Man Too, Mike Walcker
The second consolation turned into a two-boat shootout between the Emcor and the Red Man, in Mike Walcker's first race back in R/CU for some time. Mike is still working out some kinds in the Red Man, and the Emcor was able to take the easy victory and advance to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro First Consolation
1st: 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
2nd: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, Jeff Griffin
3rd: 2001 Miss Emcor, Gary Grembowski
4th: 1983 American Speedy Printing (Red), Mike Cathey
5th (DNF): 2007 Boeing Dreamliner, Paxton Reunanen
6th (DNS): 1971 Country Boy, John Olson
This heat was about the Circus Circus, flexing its muscles around the outside, and throwing the throttle to 100 despite the tricky breeze. No one was willing to challenge the wind as much as Malloy in the Circus, and he used the boat to perfection, advancing to the final.
1/8th Scale Nitro Final
1st: 1972 Notre Dame, Bill Brandt
2nd: 1970 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Fred Olson
3rd (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-65), Brenda Brandt
4th (DNF): 1978 Miss Circus Circus, Mike Malloy
5th (DNF): 1987 Eliminator, Scott Meyers
6th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop (U-64), Dave Brandt
7th (DNF): 2014 Spirit of Qatar, Jim Putich
This heat was a wild one, with the wind playing a major factor. First, the Pride of Pay'n had the inside lane at the start, but was called for jumping the gun. In the left turn, the Spirit of Qatar and the Eliminator both tangled in a crash, with the Eliminator being able to continue. Then, with four boats all contending for first, the U-64 Squire Shop spun and knocked the U-65's cowling off. The U-64 died in the right turn as a result, and the U-65 took the lead. On the next lap, the Eliminator flipped on the backstretch, contributing to the debris on the course. The Circus Circus also died on the backstretch on the next lap, in a tricky spot in the glare that the drivers could barely see. Brenda navigated around all the debris, with half a lap before her first career victory, the boat flipped up the backstretch. Upon retrieval, the skid fin and rudder were severly kicked up, indicating that the boat had hit something, robbing her of a victory.
This put the Notre Dame in the lead, and the boat then flipped up the backstretch. However, it did a complete 360, and Bill kept going! Meanwhile, Fred Olson was charging hard with the Pay'n Pak, and through the final turn, it became evident that it would turn into a drag race for the finish. Both drivers floored it, and it was super close, with the Notre Dame claiming the victory by only half of a boat length!